More tax hikes? ADVERTISING More tax hikes? As Gomer Pyle would say: “Surprise, surprise!” Taxes and fees are going up. Republicans and Democrats say they don’t want to raise taxes, but invariably they do. Any budget (family or government) has
More tax hikes?
As Gomer Pyle would say: “Surprise, surprise!”
Taxes and fees are going up. Republicans and Democrats say they don’t want to raise taxes, but invariably they do.
Any budget (family or government) has two parts — income and expenditures. Unfortunately, politicians usually increase expenditures, which of course means we workers have to give more to the collective cause (pun intended.)
Wouldn’t it be great if government expenditures actually decreased instead, effectively putting more discretionary income in your pocket? But then politicians would have less money to support government and pet projects that help get them re-elected. Therein lies the rub.
Perhaps term limits would moderate the expenditure mindset — or not.
Fred Fogel
Volcano
Rodenticide plan
In the Tuesday, May 2, Hawaii Tribune-Herald and West Hawaii Today there was news about a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan to broadcast baited rodenticides, chlorophacinone and diphacinone, on a 34-acre parcel of federal land at Pohakuloa Training Area.
While this test might have “insignificant” environmental impact, given the size of the test area, it is for the purpose of advancing the method of managing our wildlife using poison.
These baited poisons are being tested for the purpose of aerial broadcast on a larger scale. Since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission is to preserve native species, the protection of other naturally existing species will not be of much concern. Species related to cultural and historical values and resources of Hawaii will be diminished by direct or indirect consumption of baited poison.
These poisons kill by causing internal hemorrhaging in rodents and other species. Ground-feeding birds and pigs will consume the bait, as well as slugs that accumulate the toxins, which are eaten by birds.
Owls and hawks might eat sick rodents. Pigs will eat dead poisoned rodents. There is no way our wild game resources, wild birds and raptors will be protected from large-scale broadcast of these rodenticides. Our natural rodent predators will die back, and the management of our wilderness will become dependent on rodenticide.
Do we want our local hunters to worry their meat is tainted? Do we want out public lands to be managed with routine showers of poison? You can read the draft EA at www.fws.gov/pacificislands.
Please send your comments to: PTA_EA_Comments@fws.gov, or via mail to: Attn: PTA EA comments, USFWS-Pacific Islands Fish &Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste. 3-122, Honolulu, HI 96850.
Comments are due by May 26.
Nani Pogline
Keaau
